As part of an EC funded project EURIPRED we are setting up a register of Biobanks on our virtual institute. We intend this register to hold details to different biobanks, grouped by research area, which will enable scientists to better identify and access samples for their research. The register will hold a short description of the biobank along with contact details and a link to the website. This is designed to signpost scientists to the biobank.

There is no charge to be included in this register and you would have the right to withdraw your bank at any time with no obligation. Simply click on the Biobanks Register picture.

If you are interested in registering, or finding our more details, please do not hesitate to contact us for a registration form or further details sending a message to eu.unicum@gmail.com.

The Central Biobank Registrar (CBR) has been initiated under the EURIPRED project, a 4-year Infrastructures Project which has received funding from the European Union‚Äôs Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (grant agreement No 312661).

The CBR is a virtual repository which collects, stores and distributes information on human biological materials including blood, plasma, saliva, purified DNA and other biospecimens held at biobanks around the world. CBR includes data on samples collected from patients with a variety of diseases including HIV, TB, Malaria, HEP, Cancer, etc. Our ambitious goal is to build the world largest disease oriented information repository that will help researchers to swiftly identify available samples needed for their research and build working relationships with physical biobanks worldwide in order to facilitate collaborations and networks and enable access to biological materials.

The virtual biobank is built on technological advancements and new IT techniques to offer opportunities for information sharing within the global biobank market. We anticipate that as the CBR grows and develops it will add efficiency to the connections between biobanks and researchers and will become an important tool in the development of new vaccines and early drug discoveries. In addition CBR will promote new collaborations and partnerships among academics, biobanks and companies.

The virtual repository offers its members a variety of services including a dedicated area for the inclusion of text, virtual tours of the biobank and online tutorials, the ability to link external documents such as protocols and images of samples and an area for order forms or request forms enabling customers to connect directly with the biobank. Additionally members will be granted access to a private area of the CBR where they can manage information on availability of samples, if required, or share information with collaborators and colleagues.